Room tax becomes law without governor’s signature

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 | 3:04 p.m.

Gibbons counts on tax increase, but won’t sign on to it (3-11-2009)
Senate passes hotel room tax hike (3-10-2009)
State Senate delays vote on room taxes (3-9-2009)
Nevada Assembly OKs bill to raise room tax (2-24-2009)

Archive of Sun politics stories

CARSON CITY – The initiative petition to increase the hotel-motel room tax by 3 percent in Clark and Washoe counties has officially become law without the signature of Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Gibbons refused to sign the bill passed by both houses of the Legislature despite the fact he had included the money collected from the tax as part of his budget. He has opposed new taxes.

The money will go to support state government the first two years and then go to public education. The union of school teachers led a drive to collect signatures on the petition. If the Legislature had not approved the plan, it would have gone on the ballot in the 2010 election.

The governor sent the unsigned petition across the hall to be filed with Secretary of State Ross Miller, who handles all the approved legislation.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By jpcortez

3/18/09 at 3:33 p.m.

Suggest removal

He is such a coward. He put the room tax increase in his budget but he cannot put his name on the bill. He lets other elected representatives do the dirty work. What a COWARD!
By ElmerFuddeCheney

3/18/09 at 4:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

Enjoy your 23 percent rental car tax and this increase in room taxes. Oh, and your 8 deck blackjack shoes.
By Future2012

3/18/09 at 5:48 p.m.

Suggest removal

Where is the rest of lawmaker's the 2-2.5 billion tax increase plan.

Where is the lawmakers spending plan.
By neiman1

3/18/09 at 6:42 p.m.

Suggest removal

The average of $3.00 per room to the state this might collect will have to be matched by a $3.00 decrease in the room rates by the hotels. They have already marked them down trying to attract guests.

When the hotel drop another 3% in their income, people will lose their jobs. This is just more unemployment. We have to stop.
By jfnance32

3/18/09 at 7:55 p.m.

Suggest removal

One of the last things that tourists deal with is the hotel bill.

I am sure that there is already some that say never again when they get that bill.

This tax increase will increase that number.

There is always a cause and effect.

The effect will be some lost jobs somewhere.

Nobody in Carson City really cares about the everyday Joe/Jane that puts in their 40+ hard work.

God forbid we cut a spending program or ask a government employee to cut their salary or platinum benefit package.

Average Joe/Jane you are screwed.
By avatar

3/18/09 at 9:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

New York "room tax" = 14%
Houston "room tax" = 17%
People still travel to these towns and pay the bill don't they?

Vegas, unlike other major destinations, can and must charge less for each room sold so the total cost is actually decreasing! DUH!

Stay in a 5 star hotel in Vegas for $125.00 per night or travel to New York and pay $855 at the Four Seasons (standard rate). If you didn't graduate from high school you can still figure out that 3 nights in New York will cost close to $3,000 dollars and even with the new tax, Vegas is under $500. Where is the average Joe or Jane going to go? Vegas if it is cheap enough!
By route66

3/19/09 at 1:22 a.m.

Suggest removal

I'm not going to New York to gamble.
Used to go to Vegas 3-4 times a year.
This is over 30 years.
Some weekends, some for a week.
Just a low/medium roller, but sometimes I'd stay up playing until they started vacuuming the floors at 5 am.
Tipped everybody very well.
Buffets were reasonable, shows were reasonable, room rates were reasonable, the slots weren't so tight they squeaked...
At least you could play for a while on a $500/day budget.
Typical political BS.
Raise taxes to line their pockets and screw the consumer.
It's self-defeating.
Goodby Vegas.
Seen ya for the last time.
And how those overbuilt condos working out?
Idiots.
By route66

3/21/09 at 12:43 p.m.

Suggest removal

And, if I want to lose my $, there are at least 17 Indian casinos in Arizona alone.